The Climax festival offers an odyssey on water and its challenges

A major event on ecological issues in Bordeaux, the Climax festival returns for an eighth edition, from September 9 to 11, 2022 in Darwin. The theme is more than topical in this period of drought: water. Note the return of Native American chief Raoni, as well as conferences, screenings (preview of a series by Cyril Dion), concerts and workshops. One of them, a mock trial, will question the possibility of giving legal status to the Garonne.

Turn the faucet handle to run the water. A gesture so spontaneous for so long, and yet. Drought empties our water tables, restrictions on water abound, the commodity is becoming scarce. Are we (finally) realizing what “blue gold” means? The countdown begins.

That of the eighth edition of the Climax festival, too. Entitled “Odyssey”, this flagship event in Bordeaux this year offers conferences and concerts for “an eventful journey through the issue of water”. Climax returns from September 9 to 11, still within the walls of the Darwin ecosystem.

“Water is a hot topic, unfortunately…” sums up Nathalie Bois-Huyghe, vice-president and co-founder of the Darwin Climax Coalitions association. “We saw it this summer, with the droughts, the floods, the fires… And always, with Climax, we seek to create a “community of destiny”, around a common problem that affects us, our territory, and connects us across borders with other human communities. »

“Water, our common destiny”

“Once again this year, the festival program addresses themes specific to New Aquitaine and France. And at the same time, we give the floor to witnesses affected by these issues around water in their country, whether in Africa, Latin America, or elsewhere”, continues Nathalie Bois-Huyghe.

Various issues as announced by the Bordeaux eco-festival: “By its absence or by its overflow, water is at the heart of most natural disasters, bringing in its wake, shortages, famines, inequalities, erosion mass of biodiversity, conflicts, migrations…. »

The presence of hydrologist Emma Hazizaspecialist in the resilience of territories in the face of extreme climate risks, will make it possible to embrace the complexity of all these issues. Then, each of them will be discussed at round tables.

Raoni, back

After a first appearance in 2019, Raoni Metuktire, an emblematic figure in the defense of the Amazon rainforest and indigenous culture, is back. A great witness of the festival, the Native American chief will be awarded the Climax honorary prize “for his commitments”, declares Nathalie Bois-Huyghe.

In addition, the rights of the living and of nature will be honoured. Maori leader, Erena Rangimarie Omaki Ransfield Rhösewill intervene to talk about the Whanganui in New Zealand, the first river to have obtained legal recognition, namely the same rights as a person.

“The word will be given to the natives, so that they give us another vision of the relationship with the living”, comments the co-founder.

In conjunction with the University of Bordeaux-Montaigne, a mock trial, “the controversy of the Garonne”, will precisely question the possibility of granting such a status to the river, in order to give it rights and protect it.

“A new world” by Cyril Dion in preview

In parallel with the meetings, around fifty committed and mobilized associations and NGOs will be grouped together in an “activist village”. Workshops will also take place there to make visitors aware of the action. New at Climax:

“Associations and NGOs have always been present during the festival, but a village of this size and shape, where the actors have carte blanche, is the first time. »

During these three days, four screenings of films and documentaries are also on the program, accompanied by discussion time. To report the preview of the documentary series “A new world” of Cyril Dionwhich will be released in the fall of 2022 on the Arte channel.

Sama’ Abdulhadi in concert

On the musical programming sidewe note the DJ set of the Palestinian artist, the first to impose herself on the international techno scene, Sama’Abdulhadi. In addition, concerts are planned every evening: Kids Return, Molecule, Macadamia Crocodile or the rapper The bean…

The festival ended with a spiritual height on the water and a ceremony. “There will be artists, dancing, music, singing… It will be a great moment that will take up all the themes discussed during the festival. It will bring us into a sensitive dimension of the subject,” concludes Nathalie Bois-Huyghe.

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